Sponge Growing on Hammer?

[will16]

Hi, I noticed that there was something pink growing at the base of my hammer a while ago. Hadn't really paid it much attention until the other day when I noticed that it had grown about 20x the size already. Looks like some sort of sponge with a wierd tube/outlet coming out of it. Does anyone know if this is something I should be concerned about? How would I deal with it?

 

[scapes]

looks like a sponge...wouldn't worry about it

 

[iron coral]

i have yet to hear about a sponge killing a coral, so your coral is ok.

 

[reeflover101]

if u dont want it on there just take it out to open air it will kill the sponge

 

[belgian_waffleman]

from this picture, It looks like the hammer coral is getting hit pretty hard with flow.
If that's the case, I would be more concerned about that than the sponge.

Waffleman

 

[erichatesmice]

I have the same purple sponge growing on the stalk of my elegance. Doesn't seem to be causing any harm.

 

[will16]

Thanks for the responses. The hammer is in pretty strong flow but seems to like it. It's a bit retracted in these photos but he's usually fully extended all the time.

 

[luke33]

I have that sponge in my tank and it completely engulfed the piece of LR its on. Honestly, i'd pull it out of the water and give it a scrub. What do you like better, the sponge or the hammer. It may be fine but why take the risk. Although you could wait to see how much it grows first : )

 

[fittiger]

It also looks like its far enough down the stalk you could separate it from the coral and isolate it in the tank.

 

[will16]

Thanks. I really have no desire to keep the sponge though and wouldn't want to cut the stalk to save it. I will be switching tanks soon so maybe i will scrub it then. It does seem to be spreading.

BTW, luke33 I have been on your MSX Skimmer thread. My msx200 just shipped!

 

[fittiger]

The stalk from anywhere an inch away from visible tissue would not contain any part of the live coral. Any reason for not wanting to cut it away?

 

[will16]

Well, whether or not i keep the sponge is of no consequence to me. I would like the stalk as long as possible to help mounting/placing the hammer. Just not worth the trouble for me to try to keep a sponge that I really don't care about.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Gdevine]

Man-o-man, what's the big deal about a sponge? They don't harm a thing, are great filter feeders and part of a natural ecosystem. I have one growing from my base of my neon green candy canes and I love it ... and it's a natural part of any ocean reef.

My vote; let it be.

 

[DetectiveTofu]

^+1 I have sponges growing all over my tank
One of Nature's many filter feeders

 

[talon4x4]

I also have one that has covered the entire stalk of my candy cane. It hasn't bothered the coral whatsoever. In fact its the fastest grower in my tank.

 

[boxerzz]

let it be in IMO

 

[will16]

Thanks for the replies. My only concern is that it will overgrow and bother the hammer. Seems like the general opinion is that it won't. If that is the case, I would leave it alone.

Thanks for the input.

 

[tmz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12327086#post12327086 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iron coral
i have yet to hear about a sponge killing a coral, so your coral is ok.

While I wouldn't worry about the sponge in the picture, I have had sponge infest a Euphylia anchora over a period of a couple of years. I ultimately had to trim it off as well as a number of dead heads.
Air alone will not always kill a sponge. Calcerous sponges can survie air exposure quite well. Scrubbing it off early is probably best. If you can save some you may wan'tto seed it somewhaer else in your tank